Product conveying device

Abstract

A device for conveying products, in particular packets of cigarettes, whereby two wheels, rotating in opposite directions about respective axes parallel to each other, transfer from one to the other a succession of products at a transfer station; one of the wheels has a succession of fixed radial seats, and the other wheel has a succession of movable seats, each of which is fitted to the wheel so as to rotate about two axes parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel and so remain parallel to and facing a corresponding fixed seat during travel through the transfer station.

I claim: 
     
       1. A device for conveying products (2), the device comprising two conveyor wheels (3, 4) in series with each other, and a transfer station (41) interposed between the two wheels (3, 4); the wheels (3, 4) rotating in opposite directions about respective fixed axes (7, 8) parallel to each other to respectively supply and withdraw a succession of said products (2) to and from the transfer station (41); a first (3) of said wheels (3, 4) comprising a succession of movable seats (10a) movable in relation to the first wheel (3); and a second (4) of said wheels (3, 4) comprising a succession of fixed radial seats (42); wherein each movable seat (10a) is connected in articulated manner to the first wheel (3) to rotate, in relation to the first wheel (3), about two axes (14, 23) parallel to the rotation axis (7) of the first wheel (3); actuating means (11) being connected to each movable seat (10a) to rotate the movable seat (10a) about said two axes (14, 23) and so keep the movable seat (10a) parallel to and facing a corresponding fixed seat (42) during travel through the transfer station (41) and push means (45, 49) mounted through a bottom surface of each said seat (10a; 42) so as to move through the seat (10a; 42) in a direction generally perpendicular to said bottom surface. 
     
     
       2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuating means (11) comprises, for each said movable seat (10a), crank means (17) hinged to the first wheel (3) to rotate, in relation to the first wheel (3), about a respective first (14) of said two axes (14, 23). 
     
     
       3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first axes (14) of said movable seats (10a) are located along a circumference (15) coaxial with the fixed rotation axis (7) of the first wheel (3). 
     
     
       4. A device as claimed in claim 2 comprising, for each said movable seat (10a), a movable pocket (10) defining the movable seat (10a) itself; said actuating means (11) connecting the movable pocket (10) to the first wheel (3) and comprising first and second orienting devices (24, 25); the respective said crank means (17) being hinged to the movable pocket (10) to rotate, in relation to the movable pocket (10), about a second (23) of said two axes (14, 23); and said first and second orienting devices (24, 25) controlling the angular position of said crank means (17) about the first (14) and second (23) axis respectively. 
     
     
       5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein each said movable pocket (10) is cup-shaped to house the whole of a respective said product (2); each said fixed seat (42) being defined by a cup-shaped fixed pocket (53) having lateral walls (54) movable between an open position permitting insertion of the movable pocket (10) inside the fixed pocket (53), and a closed position defining the respective said fixed seat (42). 
     
     
       6. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said two axes (14, 23) parallel to the rotation axis (7) of said first wheel (3) are movable. 
     
     
       7. A device for conveying products (2), the device comprising two conveyor wheels (3, 4) in series with each other, and a transfer station (41) interposed between the two wheels (3, 4); the wheels (3, 4) rotating in opposite directions about respective fixed axes (7, 8) parallel to each other to respectively supply and withdraw a succession of said products (2) to and from the transfer station (41); a first (3) of said wheels (3, 4) comprising a succession of movable seats (10a) movable in relation to the first wheel (3); and a second (4) of said wheels (3, 4) comprising a succession of fixed radial seats (42); each movable seat (10a) being connected in articulated manner to the first wheel (3) to rotate, in relation to the first wheel (3), about two axes (14, 23) parallel to the rotation axis (7) of the first wheel (3); actuating means (1) connected to each movable seat (10a) to rotate the movable seat (10a) about said two axes (41, 23) and so keep the movable seat (10a) parallel to and facing a corresponding fixed seat (42) during travel through the transfer station (41); and a movable pocket (10) defining each movable seat (10a) itself; each said movable pocket (10) being cup-shaped to house all of a respective said product (2); each said fixed seat (42) being defined by a cup-shaped fixed pocket (53) having lateral walls (54) movable between an open position permitting insertion of the movable pocket (10) inside the fixed pocket (53), and a closed position defining the respective said fixed seat (42). 
     
     
       8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said actuating means (11) comprises, for each said movable seat (10a), crank means (17) hinged to the first wheel (3) to rotate, in relation to the first wheel (3), about a respective first (14) of said two axes (14, 23). 
     
     
       9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first axes (14) of said movable seats (10a) are located along a circumference (15) coaxial with the fixed rotation axis (7) of the first wheel (3). 
     
     
       10. A device as claimed in claim 8, comprising for each said movable seat (10a), a movable pocket (10) defining the movable seat (10a) itself; said actuating means (11) connecting the movable pocket (10) to the first wheel (3) and comprising first and second orienting devices (24, 25); the respective crank means (17) being hinged to the movable pocket (10) to rotate, in relation to the movable pocket (10), about a second (23) of said two axes (14, 23); and said first and second orienting devices (24, 25) controlling the angular position of said crank means 917) about the first (14) and second (23) axis respectively. 
     
     
       11. A device as claimed in claim 7, comprising push means (45, 49) mounted through a bottom surface of each said seat (10a, 42) so as to move through the seat (10a, 42) in a direction generally perpendicular to said bottom surface. 
     
     
       12. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said two axes (14, 23) parallel to the rotation axis (7) of said first wheel (3) are movable.